Arunachal Minister Discusses Financial Issues with Union Finance Minister

ITANAGAR: Balo Raja, the Minister for Urban Affairs, Civil Aviation, and Land Management in Arunachal Pradesh, met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to address the state's ongoing financial constraints on Friday. The discussion, held in the national capital, focused on the adverse effects of alleged Chinese interference in securing international funding for the state.

Accompanied by Itanagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Tame Phassang, Raja highlighted that Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are the only states in India currently unable to access loans from major global financial institutions, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank. He reiterated that this restriction puts Arunachal Pradesh in a vulnerable situation, making it heavily dependent on the central government's help because it lacks resources.

Raja stated, "Due to protests from China, Arunachal Pradesh is deprived of financial aid from international institutions and is thus solely dependent on central assistance." China has historically claimed Arunachal Pradesh as part of Southern Tibet, a stance that has reportedly hindered the state's ability to secure global financial aid.

Expressing gratitude for the support provided by the central government, Raja appealed to Sitharaman to speed up pending grants to urban local bodies and also provide extra funds for essential development projects in the state. Sitharaman replied, assuring Raja of the central government's determination towards the development of Arunachal Pradesh and making continuous financial aid available to the state.

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